BANGOR- Olivia Lebrun scored in the first overtime period on Saturday afternoon, giving SUNY-Delhi a 3-2 come from behind victory over Husson in the North Atlantic Conference women’s soccer championship game at Boucher Field.
It didn’t take the host Husson long to get on the board. Charlotte Messer took a pass in the box got from Natalie Aviolla and found the back of the net in the sixth minute. That 1-0 lead would hold into halftime. Kelsey Innes, on the first shot on goal by SUNY-Delhi just over nine minutes into the second half, would tie the score. The first shot by Innes from just inside the 18-yard line beat Eagles goaltender Madison Weigler, but hit the crossbar and bounced straight down and didn’t cross the line. Innes followed it up after Weigler couldn’t corrale it and fired it into the net to make it 1-1. It took Husson 5:29 to take back the lead. Aviolla got loose up the right sideline, dribbled around two defenders and went 1 on 1 with Broncos netminder Andraya Hunt. Aviolla dribbled right to left getting Hunt out of position, and kicked it into the empty goal. It looked like the Eagles would be able to hold on, but Shaniyah Myers had other thoughts. Myers lifted a shot from the 18 over the outstretched hands of Weigler with just 53 seconds showing on the clock to make it 2-2 and send it to overtime.
Per NAC postseason rules, there is no golden goal (first team scores wins) any longer, so overtime consists of two 10 minute periods and if the score is still tied then penalty kicks decides the winner. Lebrun would score 7:09 into the first overtime period that would turn out to be the game winner off a header and pass from Micayla Slattery. Husson had a few good looks in both extra periods, but fired two shots wide of the goal and Hunt made a couple key saves that would clinch the victory.
Weigler made one save in the loss for the East Division Champ Husson, who ends their season at 11-7-1. Aviolla had a goal and an assist. Innes had a goal and an assist in the win for SUNY-Delhi, and Hunt was big in net with eight saves. The Broncos improve to 9-6-4 and will await the announcement from the NCAA on where they’re headed and their opponent for the Division III Tournament. After the match, the North Atlantic Conference announced their All-Tournament team-
Cazenovia College- Junior forward Jaylah Cossin, Junior midfield/defense Jenicah Brown
Maine Maritime Academy- Sophomore defense Kirra Magana, Senior goalie Bess MacArthur
SUNY-Delhi- Junior forward Olivia Lebrun, Senior defense Olivia Curry, Senior midfield Kelsey Innes *Innes was named Tournament MVP
Husson- Junior midfield Lindsey Russell, Freshman midfield Caley Nault, Sophomore forward Natalie Aviolla
